The man who should have been President for the past six years says he has other priorities:

Al Gore says that he will not run in the 2008 election, saying he was involved in "a different kind of campaign."

Al Gore, who is currently in Japan promoting his award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth", spoke with journalists in Tokyo, saying, "The U.S. should be leading the world toward a solution for this climate crisis instead of leading in the other direction." His cause is critical, perhaps more critical in the long run than any other issue that he could effect as president. On the other hand, how much could he do on the issue of global warming as President?

H/T MyDD, where Chris has some thoughts on 2008.

Update: That was fast. Sources in the comments, and Jerome at MyDD are questioning this story. No clarification from Reuters or from the man himself yet offered.

Upate II: We now have an entirely new story. Where did Reuters come up with this interpretation of Gore's remarks? A Bloomberg report of the event goes back to a statement made in September, but mentions nothing said today. The Japan Times makes no reference to his future plans at all.